Bye, Razors—Women Are Now Microwaving Their Armpits

In word combinations we never thought we’d hear, “microwave” and “armpits” ranks near the top, along with “Kim Kardashian” and “under the radar.” And yet, today Marie Claire posted a story about a new release from medical device company Miramar Labs that permanently zaps underarm hair growth using microwave energy—yes, the same microwave energy that reheated your Sunday night Chinese takeout, but supposedly much safer. “It's the same wavelength, but the delivery method, depth of penetration or range, and safety profile are totally different,” Dr. Snehal P. Amin, a board-certified dermatologic surgeon, told Marie Claire. The laser gun–like device heats up the levels deep under your skin where your hair root and sweat glands are located and subsequently destroys them. If all of this sounds like some sort of hush-hush black market thing, it’s not—it’s actually the only FDA-approved device of its kind, and the company has reported over 40,000 treatments this far.

But is it really, truly safe? It is brand new, after all, and hasn’t had the long-term research other devices (like lasers) have. At the end of the day, it’s yet another intense and somewhat painful length we will go in the quest for smooth, hair-free skin. But is it worth it?